Bears general manager Phil Emery said the Bears are waiting for Jay Cutler to get ”medical clearance” after his concussion before he would speculate on when Cutler will return to the playing field.
”Jay is feeling better,” Emery told Bears play-by-play announcer Jeff Joniak on the Bears’ pre-game show on WBBM-AM on Monday. ”With any medical situation, it’s very unique to the player and the injury he has. We look forward to the day he comes back. We’ll wait for medical clearance and move forward from there.”
Emery said he has complete confidence in Jason Campbell, who has started 70 games in the NFL and will start against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football in San Francisco.
”The No. 1 thing from a general manager’s perspective and personnel department, in conjunction with our coaches is to always be prepared,” Emery said. ”We felt like the quarterback situation … we wanted a more experienced player and Jason Campbell was available and we were very fortunate to sign him.”
It’ll be interesting to see how Campbell fares after former Miami Dolphin Chad Henne, another veteran quarterback who was on the free-agent market last year, came off the bench for the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday to torch the Houston Texans’ defense for 354 yards, four touchdowns and a 126.8 passer rating in a 43-37 loss in Houston.
Henne was a starter for the Miami Dolphins at the beginning of last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 4 — just as Campbell was a starter with the Raiders last year before suffering a shoulder injury in Week 6.
”[Backup quarterbacks] are very hard to find with that number of starts [and] the successful experience as a starter,” Emery said. ”[Campbell is] a No. 1 pick. He fits us because he has good arm strength and good mobility — important qualities in the city of Chicago.
”[Campbell] is not a flame-thrower, but he has good arm strength. He throws a very catchable, accurate ball. We also look for leadership skills and we liked Jason’s demeanor. He knows how to fit in within a group. He’s fit in very well with Jay and Josh [McCown] and Matt Blancard.
”Our players respect his quiet demeanor, his intelligence and we’re looking forward to Jason contributing to a Bears win. We’re going to miss Jay –his leadership and his ability level. But given that Jay is out, we’re glad to have Jason. I’m very confident he’ll do well.”
